Previewing the (Possible) Field for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup

Breeders' Cup 2014 start at Santa Anita. [Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport]

American Pharaoh has some competition to worry about at the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic, October 31, at Keeneland in Lexington, KY. The Triple Crown winner will be running against Keen Ice, who beat him at the Travers Stakes on August. 29, as well as other Challenge cup winners and highly regarded contenders.

The Breeders’ Cup has been the year-end championship for North American thoroughbreds since 2008. Horses qualify for entry to the Breeders’ Cup by winning one of the Challenge races or ranking high in the point system used by the Cup officials, which is based on how the horses do in major races over the year.

         American Pharoah

Called “the Michael Jordan of horse racing,” American Pharoah is the big favorite for the Breeders’ Cup. The first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years, he now has the chance to be the first horse to ever win the Grand Slam: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, and the Breeders’ Club Classic. He will be the first Triple Crown winner to grace the Cup, which started just seven years ago.

American Pharoah has won six out of seven of his races so far this year. Some handicappers feel his loss at Saratoga was at least partially due to the fact that American Pharoah traveled over 18,000 miles this season. They feel the horse was simply tired from all the commuting.

         Keen Ice

The owner’s of Keen Ice are looking forward to “a rematch in the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” where their horse had the major distinction of beating American Pharaoh at Saratoga at the end of August, and they are eager to prove that the triumph was no fluke. He went in to the race a 16-1 long shot and came out a contender.

         Beholder

Assuring her a spot in the Breeders’ Cup, Beholder won the Pacific Classic, her first race against males. Experts are wondering if her owners will forgo entry this year and instead concentrate on preparing her for the 2016 Cup, which will be held at Santa Anita.

         Hard Aces

Hard Aces is a five-year old that won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita to gain entry to the Breeders’ Cup. But subsequently he finished sixth in the Pacific Classic, won by Beholder.\

         Honor Code

Honor Code, a four-year-old, won the Whitney at Saratoga in early August to qualify for the Breeders’ Cup. That was his third win in four races this year. At the Whitney, he came from last place at the half-mile pole to win.

         Other Contenders

Other highly touted contenders in the race include Liam’s Map, Dortmund, Hoppertunity, Frosted, Tonalist, Texas Red and Catch a Flight.